"We are faced with food insecurity at the moment. This has further been worsened by the ever-increasing cost of living that has weighed on us. The day's meager wages that we get from engaging in casual work are no longer sufficient to buy food for the day since we live from hand to mouth, casual jobs have become scarce and erratic too. It is a struggle to put food on the table and each day present a worry for us about where the next meal will come from. So bad is the situation that we sometime go to bed on an empty stomach , our children bore the biggest brunt and it worries us a great deal."

"I underwent National Youth Service paramilitary training and thereafter I was sponsored by the institution to do a certificate course in Automotive Engineering which I graduated sometime in December 2021. I have tried looking for employment but I have not been successful. I came from a poor background and I thought I would come out of the situation when I graduated and get employment. The certificate so far has not assisted me secure employment and it breaks my heart a lot after the struggle that I underwent. Life in Nairobi was so biting, I eventually decided to relocate to the village where I have been engaging in casual jobs and looking after my goats. So lack of employment drove me into oblivion and back to the trenches to struggle to earn a living, thanks to the life skills I got from college."

"We are faced with many challenges which include the lack of money and food. However, the challenge that is making our life harder recently is the lack of food. This has been caused by the prolonged drought which has seen our farms become unproductive for the past 3 years. We have been forced to purchase foodstuffs from the local market which is very expensive due to the high cost of products. Since we only depend on casual labor to get money for food and other basic needs, it is not enough for us to purchase food. It is very difficult for us because we sometimes have to skip meals and even go hungry without food."

"My main challenge at the moment is housing. After I separated from my husband I came back home to my father who gave me one of his houses. However, he has told me that I need to look for another place to live with my children which is a challenge for me since I'm struggling to provide for them. In addition to this, I don't have enough food for my family. This has worsened because of the high cost of living which has made it impossible to purchase maize and other foodstuffs. We are forced to go hungry sometimes and even eat one meal a day which might not be enough. It saddens me so much to see my children going hungry without food."

"With a successful business already underway, I am eager to explore poultry farming as an additional income stream, which would enhance my financial stability and meet my needs. Increasing my flock by acquiring additional hens is part of my strategy. By year-end, I expect to have a significant number of hens ready for sale, allowing me to generate a substantial profit. Alongside my poultry venture, I intend to construct a permanent business facility. Concerned about the security of my business from potential looters, I aim to replace the current mud wall structure with a more secure building."

"With the unconditional cash transfers, many lives have been uplifted in the community as people have acquired assets and food for their families. If it were not for GiveDirectly, the community could not have flourished in such a good way. I am also happy with the enrollment process, as there was no discrimination at all. If only the transfers could be long-term, the tremendous change could be seen even further."

"GiveDirectly yakoze amateka akomeye aho twabashije kwiteza imbere binyuze mu mucyo twawe urenganijwe. Icyo yazakora neza kurushaho ubutaha ari ibishoboka inkunga ntiyazajya ihagararira ku cyiciro cya kabiri, bishobotse wenda nicya gatatu kikaba cyaboneka byarushaho kuba byiza."

"I spent my most recent transfer to buy Planks and cartoons of zinc nails for the construction of my house."

"So far, I have some of the things I desired to have, like the carpentry tools. This has opened another great opportunity for my skills and financial growth. I will also be in a position to buy livestock, as I have always wanted to, because in this community of ours, respect is accorded in terms of how many cows or goats you have. I might even find myself among the elders in the community discussing issues hitting our people, which will bring me so much joy."

"I was on the farm doing my work when I received a message notification. I paused a little to check on it, and I was so happy to see the Mpesa balance. Immediately I remembered my business, which I had closed down for a while because of financial constraints."